Tree treasures

By The Standard Staff - 12/22/2007

Virginia Loranger adjusts an ornament on her Christmas tree in Anaconda, which is a showcase of collectibles passed down through generations. Above right: Loranger’s tree includes a string of beads once belonging to her great-grandmother

ANACONDA — Sandy Puccinelli’s Christmas tree is a tribute to holidays past.

“It’s a history lesson to me,” she said, gesturing to the 9-foot tree, decorated with more than 300 globes, balls and souvenirs. “They’re not ornaments, they’re memories.” The small, shiny balls on the upper branches are gifts from her sister when she was a newlywed, 38 years ago. The figurine of Mary and a baby Jesus is a gift from her grandmother when she was 4. And a collection of knitted ornaments are seasonal gifts from her best friend.

“I’ve got Italian and French ornaments” as well, she says, also pointing out commemorative ornaments from the U.S. Mint.

Afoot the tree, an antique train races around a track on the perimeter of a quaint winter village.

Sandy’s is among the many thoughtfully decorated Christmas trees that are centerpieces of holiday homes in Anaconda. Some represent lineage. Some are artful displays of colors and textures. Some are purely for fun.

But all are the result of hard work — more than a month’s worth, in some cases — and the focus of family pride.

A tree for every room A tour of Pat Huotte’s Christmas tree collection begins in her laundry room.

“There’s No. 1,” she says, pointing to a miniature tree atop a counter.

By the time she gets to the living room, she has shown a half-dozen trees — part of her 23-tree collection.

“I used to think, ‘why are we just decorating the living room,’” she says, explaining her tree fetish.

After decades of picking up trees at post-Christmas discounts and garage sales, her cache includes a feather tree in the dining room, a trio of aluminum trees for the living room, wall-hung trees in her bathrooms and a snowman-themed tree in her guest room.

It’s a tradition requiring ample preparation. She starts putting up her Christmas trees before most people are thinking about Thanksgiving.

“I started Nov. 4, and I finished last Friday night,” Huotte says. “I’ve been known to leave them up until St. Patrick’s Day. I’ve left them up so long I’ve had to dust off the ornaments before I put them away.” She loves trees, but Huotte has rules. A Christmas tree isn’t a Christmas tree without lights and ornaments. That means every tree in her collection is lit at night — thanks to timers.

“If I had to plug them all in every night by the time I got done I’d have to go back and turn them off,” she says.

Among her most noteworthy trees is the “motion tree” in her basement. The tree rotates on a base, and each ornament is powered by a tiny motor to spin on its own. Afoot the tree is a handmade, miniature version of Anaconda’s Kennedy Common and its surrounding neighborhood.

“I’m pretty proud of my trees,” she says.

A classy centerpiece If Christmas was a red-carpet affair, Marion Strelnik’s tree would be an eye-catching gown.

Wrapped in gold and bejeweled with crystal, the glistening centerpiece borrows class and elegance from vintage and Victorian styles.

“I just decided one year I wanted to put all gold ornaments on,” Strelnik said. “I just kind of liked it. I like pretty things.” Pretty it is, with golden tassels and globes adding warmth to light reflected by multi-faceted crystal ornaments.

Although gold is the theme, it isn’t a requisite for every ornament.

“One my favorites is this one with the pansies,” she said, holding an ornament adorned with delicate flowers. “It’s such a sweet ornament, I just love it.” The heirloom tree The string of red and gold beads on Virginia Loranger’s tree was once a part of her great-grandmother’s holiday décor.

With its hand-painted globes, war-era figurines and souvenir ornaments, Loranger’s tree is a showcase of heirlooms and collectibles.

“These little ones up at the top were on our first Christmas tree 54 years ago,” she says.

The tree holds souvenirs from trips to Missouri, Ireland and Pennsylvania, as well as child-made crafts — tokens of Loranger’s long career as a teacher.

From the lowest branches hang shiny globes, including one on which a ballerina is painted. The ornament, among Loranger’s favorites, belonged to her mother.

“Her tree was all great big ornaments,” she says. “So many have broken.” She hopes to pass on the collection someday to her own children.

“I don’t know if they’re going to want them, but I hope someone does,” she says.

Red Christmas A lifelike bird with feathers the color of ripe strawberries is an eye-catching addition to Gwen Milani’s classic Christmas tree.

“I like birds,” Milani explains.

But most of all, she says, she likes ornaments. Throughout her life and all year round she has been buying ornaments and receiving them as gifts, adding to her collection.

“All my kids and my great grandkids now are starting to give me ornaments,” she said. “These little things came from Alaska,” she said, pointing out a miniature seal.

Her delicately decorated tree is punctuated by deep and vibrant reds in ornaments, birds and bows.

Tree traditions Like the ornaments dangling from its branches, Theresa and Ken Verlanic’s tree is traditional.

“My mother always had Ponderosa pines, so when we got married I said, Kenny, we have to have Ponderosas.” Each year, the Verlanics drive about 70 miles to Helmville to buy a Ponderosa harvested from the Wineglass Ranch.

This year’s eight-foot tall tree, with its broach branches and long needles, takes up nearly a quarter of their living room.

“I’ve always liked Ponderosas because there’s a lot of room to put ornaments,” she said. “Every trip we go on I seem to find an ornament and go home with it.” Who needs ornaments?

Forget tiny figurines and shiny globes.

When it comes to tree décor, Lorraine Johnson forgoes ornaments for stuffed animals. Her rotating tree features samples from her extensive collection of Beanie Babies. Even her tree topper is an angel bear.

“I have about 600 Beanie Babies,” she said. “I started collecting them in 1992 when they first came out.” Five years ago she decided to put them on her tree.

“It was just something I thought would be fun,” she said.

Erin Nicholes may be reached at erin.nicholes@mtstandard.com.

Photos by Erin Nicholes / The Montana Standard